Hello Guest, if you reading this it means you have not yet registered. Please take a second to Click here to register and in a few simple steps, you will be able to enjoy all the many features of our fine community. Please note that nicknames are prohibited lewd or meaningless (no numbers or letters at random) and introduce yourself in the section for you to meet our community.

Reservist Medals

I just looked in my Marine Online and saw the below medals dates. What does this mean? Are these medals that I am eligible for? Is there really a medal just for being a reservist? Kinda lame if you ask me.

yes there is a reserve medal but you don't rate it until you have been with your unit for something like 3 years. That date you see is the date you went to boot camp, start of your contract, and the date they use later to rate those medals.

Only medal you should rate right now is your NDSM (pizza stain/fire watch ribbon). After about a year or so with your unit you should rate your GWOT (global war on terrorism service medal).

One of them is the USMCR "good cookie", the other is the AFRM (blue/yellowish). The AFRM you get when you deploy (M), or stay in for 3 years(Hourglass). Same with the good cookie, that's if you don't get NJP'd.

And yes, there are medals for just being a reservist, same with medals just for active duty (GWOT after a month in the fleet, active duty good cookie).

I understand its a completely different argument with that but its just another ribbon for doing a job and/or being at the right time and place.

(not trying to belittle any Marines accomplishments like yourself Cpl. just playing a little devils advocate, I agree with you to some extent)

If you're gonna play devil's advocate do it right. Asking questions like that will get your face rearranged in real life. You might want to avoid it in the future. You tell me what C A R stands for and you'll see the reason for it. I might be livin POG-a-licous now but I was an 0351 too and I dare you to come take my CAR away.

Having said that, I get the Reserve medals-they are just reserve component equivalents of the same active duty awards. I bear no grudge towards reservists. I used to clown on them as Weekend Warriors and "Fleet Dodging Nasties" but in time I saw the burden they bore at home and abroad. Being a Marine is hard and so is holding down a job and a civilian life. Doing both is no small feat and I give respect where it is due.

I don't know, but if you ask me... there shouldn't be a 3rd-class PFT award or a Marksmanship badge (3rd-class as well).

The Marine Corps shouldn't except a 3rd class anything... but that's just a nobody's opinion.

Well I guess we ought to ACCEPT 3rd class spelling, Marine? Go check out the spelling MCI and haze yourself.

Just bustin your balls, brother-only grunts get away with being illiterate, though. Before you go hard charging and putting people down, just try to think about why the Corps accepts 3rd class. Anything less is failing and not every one is young dumb and full of you know what right off the Depot. Yeah every Marine should shoot for the top, but the fact is that years, injuries, and life take their toll. If you had a stellar analyst working for you who was sh!t-hot but ran a 190 or fvcked up the range, would you want to separate him or help him get better? Which would be better for the Corps? You can fix pullups; you can't fix stupid.

If you're gonna play devil's advocate do it right. Asking questions like that will get your face rearranged in real life. You might want to avoid it in the future. You tell me what C A R stands for and you'll see the reason for it. I might be livin POG-a-licous now but I was an 0351 too and I dare you to come take my CAR away.

Having said that, I get the Reserve medals-they are just reserve component equivalents of the same active duty awards. I bear no grudge towards reservists. I used to clown on them as Weekend Warriors and "Fleet Dodging Nasties" but in time I saw the burden they bore at home and abroad. Being a Marine is hard and so is holding down a job and a civilian life. Doing both is no small feat and I give respect where it is due.

Well said brother, we each have a appointed place of duty, we go where the Corps sends us, or dosn't send us. I honestly feel like I did pretty good coming away with three ribbons, and one of them being a MUC in only two years, before going out on medical. On top of that I earned my ribbons just like all other Marines do. You may not feel like you earned it when given, but you earn it eventually. Like I said Chris well said brother!!

The reservist GC is for just that. And until you have to do the weekend grind for a few years, you might want to re-think your jackass like statement. Reservists of all branches have deployed far more than the active forces have in this war. I know several 'reservists' who have 4 tours and are still going.

I don't know, but if you ask me... there shouldn't be a 3rd-class PFT award or a Marksmanship badge (3rd-class as well).

The Marine Corps shouldn't except a 3rd class anything... but that's just a nobody's opinion.

Things happen man, I shot Sharpshooter in Boot, Expert in the fleet, and then Marksman right before getting out. Dosn't make anyone less of a Marine, I was good at my job, and my NCO's, SNCO's and Officers knew it that was good enough for me.